Hallelujah Night brings hundreds to Fairfield Rec Center

While many children in Kinston enjoyed trick-or-treating in neighborhoods across the city, others went to an event promoting a positive alternative.

Greater St. Peter Church Ministries threw its annual Hallelujah Night event at the Fairfield Recreational Center, with hundreds of children and parents in attendance.

The event was coordinated by three members of the church: Tawara Johnson, Sherry Hart and Teresa Speight.

“It was a collective effort by the church members,” Johnson said. “We wanted to give our youth another alternative over going door to door, because in this day and age you have all kinds of crazy things going on. We had the kids in a confined environment with trusting people where they could enjoy themselves.”

The event featured games, jewelry making and volunteers giving words of encouragement to the children.

John Harrison Jr., 10, was more interested in another aspect, which made him excited about the event.

“I did it for the food,” Harrison Jr. said.

His father, John Harrison Sr., wanted to give his son a good environment in which to be instead of trick-or-treating.